Automatic firearm



Jan. 23, 1923.v 1,442,951. A. C. ITHOMITIS.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

FILED oms-1921. y 2 SHEETS-sneu l.

ATTORNEY J an. 23, 1923. 1,442,951. A. c. ITHOMITIS.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

FILED DEc.5,1921. 2 sHnTs-sHEE 2.

I vm

mvENToR k3 7&6 l'mow xs l BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

APOSTOLOS C. ITHOMITIS, OF RAYMOND, WASHINGTON.

Application led December 5, 1921.

To all 'w hom t 'may concer/n,

Be it known that l, ArosroLos C. ITHO- Miris, a citizen of Greece, but who have declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Raymond, in the county of Pacific and State of lllashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firearms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic firearms, and particularly to improvements in shot-guns wherein the shells contained in the magazine are delivered into the firing chamber singly and in repetition as the shells are fired and ejected. The recoil of the exploding shell furnishing energy to perform the successive acts of loading, tiring and ej ecting.

The object of theinvention is the provision of simple and effective means toy accomplish the said successive functions of tiring the initial discharge` utilizing the recoil to eject the shell and reload7 and to lire the following shell.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent in the course of the following specification of the invention, wherein the invention consists in the novel construction of an automatic {ire-arm of the class described, and the adaptation and combination of parts and devices to carry out the aforesaid results, as will be fully described in the following specification illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a shot-gun embodying my invention, shown partly in longitudinal section to disclose the interior of the gun, said view showing the working parts in firing positions.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the working parts in positions prior to a new shell entering the tiring chamber.

Fig, 3 is a` view in side elevation of my impro-ved shot-gun.

F ig. 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section showing the extraction of a shell. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views in cioss-section on lines 6 6, and 7 7, respectively of Fig. 4. i Y Y Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 8 8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional'vview of the reciprocating bolt.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

serial No. 519,830.

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of the bolt.

Fig. 11 is a front end view of the bolt Fig. 12 is a rear end view of the bolt.

Fig. 13 is a detached view ofthe trigger and connecting parts. f

Referring to said views, in ""ivliich like characters of reference denote like .parts in the several views, the reference. numeral 1 designates the stock of a. shot-gun of my invention and 2 the barrel pro-vided with a bore 3 of o-rdinary or suitable construction. Connecting said stock and the barrel isa casing 5 including a chamber 6 for the trigger actuating mechanism and a ',niagazine chamber 7. vTo the rear of said barrel and in axial alignment therewith is breech-cham ber 8 and in parallel therewith is a recoil chamber 10. Said chambers 8 and 10 are connected by a slot 11 and in the breechchamber 8 of circular coniiguration in crosssection is a bolt 12 arranged to reciprocate therein and provided with an arm 13-eXtend ing into recoil chamber 10 and formedwith a stud 15. A corresponding 'stud 16 is formed at the rearward end of said cha-inber 10. A compression coil-spring 17 is mounted at-opposite ends on said studs and serves to absorbthe recoil of the Xplosive shelll upon said bolt and to cause the latter to rebound to fire the next successive charge.

18 indicates an arm extending horizontally through a slot 20in the side wall of the gun-breech through which the bolt may be manipulated by hand. lSaid bolt is formed with an interior chamber 21.to receive a firing-pin 22. Said pin isof relatively reduced size excepting for a collar 23 which is formed for a sliding fit within said chamber 21. A. coil spring 25 is confined between said collar and the rear end of said chamber 21 tending' to urgesaid pin forwardly. Reduced apertures are formed at the front and rear ends of said chamber 21, as at 26 and 27, respectively. iperture 26 admits ot' the front pointed end of the tiring pin to protrude therethrough to penetrate the fulminating cap of the shell and aperture 2T forms a rear sliding bearing for the pin. The rear end of said tiring piii-eXt'eriorly of the bolt is provided with a head 28 having a downwardly directed lug 30. f

31 indicates a trigger pivoted at 32.*within chamber 6 andprotected by guard 323i 35 indicates Ia spring tending'to urge said trigger in its forward inoperative position. Con-- the trigger is actuated, said Afinger is 'ari'anged to engage a` ystar-wheel-ft() having points 41 of rounded extremities at points offset forwardly of the radius of said wheel so that the wheel will be given a partial rotation at each impulse ofthe trigger. Pivoted at 42 above the wheel is a rocking lever 43 Whose rearward arm is provided with an anti-friction roller45 normally engaging in lthe depressions between said star-points 41 ofthe wheel. The opposite arml of said lever is provided with av right angularly directed dog 46 'extending through Ia'slo't 47 vinto the path of said lug 30. The forward end of said lever is yieldingly maintained in its uppermostv position by means of a spring 48. 50 indicates a sliding safety catch l'arranged whereby'the latter cannot be actuated accidentally;

The magazine chamber 7 is communicatively connected to lthebreech-chaml'ier of the `'gun by an openingf52 and is closedf'at its bottom by means of -afplate 53 hingedly connected to the casing at and secured spring catch 56. 'Connec-tedt'o said plate is a" flat folded spring 57' supportinga pan 58v upon which the shells are disposedV in superimposed order. Spring guide meinbers 60 are secured'at 61 to the sides of the magazine, and serve'to maintain said shells 'in aligned position.

I62 indicates an extractor pivotally connected at63 to the bolt arranged to rock 4D' slightly on said connection through the action of a coil spring 65. The extractor -liead 66 is arranged to seize the rim of thel shell and withdraw the shell until the latter vis opposite the side'op'ening 67 ofthe breech whereupon the opposite edge of said rini will strike upon' a pin 68 which will enable the extractor head to pull the shell sidewise through opening 67 andaway from the gun, as shown in Fig. 4. A slot 70 is formed in Vthe bolt'to accommodate the passage'of the bolt by said pin 68. L

formed in two parts r Said bolt 12 may be for convenience in manufacture vand assembling. The forward part 12 is formed with 'a rib 71 'having a portion 72 extending rear- 'war'dly 'over the main portion of said bolt and is'slotted at 73 to accommodate a key 7 5 'rigid with bolt 12 and'inllongitudinal align- 'i'nentvthere'wit'lr Saidrib and key are arranged to slide witht'hefboltin'lslot 'T6-'of the breech chamber. l

The operation of 'my improved ,-gunA may v be described follows: Referring'to Fig. 1

where. a shell isshown in 'the' firing chamber 71, the bOlt is cooked preparatory to tiring pulling back the bolt 12 by means of the arm 18 until the lug 3() engages and is retained by the dogr46. rAs said armis released,'the power 'of spring 17 asserts itself to move the bolt forwardly of the breechchamber while the firing pin is retained by :the dog 46 yto compress the spring 25. As

4forces it backward in the breech-chamber and against the compression of spring 11 `until the force of the recoil is absorbed,

whereupon the power of spring 17 will'assert itself and cast the bolt forwardly again to fireVv the succeeding shell.

The gun will continue firing as long as the trigger is held,

land-the dog 46 .depressed out of the lineof `travel 'of'tlie lugs 30. to be moved into a notch y51 in'the trigger 'Said trigger when=pulled inthe ordinary manner forces the finger 36 against one of fthe-star-points 41 of the wheel 40 and gives said wheel ya partial rotation. 1n doingso, the wheel elevates the rear aiin of lever 43 through the roller 45 travelling over. one of said star-points and thereby actuates the dog 46 toreleasev the firing pin. There is sufficient tensionin spring 48 to cause said "roller 45to move said star-wheel so .that the roller will again occupy one of the depres-` sions in said wheel, unless the trigger is retained.

`As one shell is being ejected by having its forward' end swing about and out of the gun "through the slot`20, the forward' end of a new shell is protruded upwardly vtowards the shell chamber, and as soon as the shell is completely ejected, the spring pressure below forces the same upwardly in position for `gun-'are numerous, and in part consist in the relative simplicity of its'construction, and the accessibility of -all parts to 'inspection and repair. It' is-not liable to .get out of order, may be reloaded with ease, and will fire and repeat with safety and reliability.

' lVbile 1 have 'described my invention briefly, 1 wish 'to be runderstood to include in the scope thereof all changes and modifications that may reasonably suggest themselves within the spirit of the invention. and the terms of the'claiins.

llaving described my invention, what I claim as my'inven'tion. is-

1. An automatic shot-gun including 'a barrel, a breech-chamber -in axial `alignment therewith, and a recoil Chamberparallel with said breech -vehamben af chambered b olt formed with an arm extending o'utwardlyof the breech-chamber and an arm extending in said recoil chamber, a compression-spring in said recoil chamber arranged to exert its force upon said bolt through said last named akrm, a firing-pin mounted in the chambered portion of said bolt and provided with a lug at its rear end exteriorly of the bolt, a coil i spring tending to urge said pin forwardly,

a trigger having an upturned finger yieldingly connected thereto, a star-wheel arranged to be actuated in partial rotation by said trigger-iinger, a spring-compressed lever having a dog arranged to engage and releasably retain said firing-pin lug, said lever being provided with a roller normally engaging within one of the depressions between the points of said star-wheel and arranged to be actuated to rock said lever and release said dog from said lug as said wheel is rotated, an extractor on said bolt, a pin in the path of the shell being ejected and upon the side opposite the extractor, to act as a stop and fulcrum to eject the shell, a magazine having an opening in its lower end, a closure for said opening, a flat bentspring retained in said magazine, a plate for lifting the shells supported on said flat spring, and spring guides at the sides of said magazine.

2. An automatic shot-gun including a barrel, a breech-chamber in axial alignment therewith and a recoil chamber parallel with said breech-chamber, a chambered bolt formed with an arm extending outwardly of the breech-chamber and an arm extending in said recoil chamber, a compression-spring in said recoil chamber arranged to exert its force upon said bolt through said last named arm, a firing-pin mounted' in the chambered portion of said bolt and provided with a lug at its rear end exteriorly of the bolt, a coil spring tending to urge said pin forwardly, a trigger having an upturned linger yieldingly connected thereto, a starwheel arranged to be actuated in partial rotation by said trigger-finger, a spring-pressed lever having -a dog arranged to engage and releasably retain said firing-pin lug, said lever being provided with a roller normally engaging within one of the depressions between the points of said star-wheeland arranged to be actuated to rocl said lever and release said dog from said lug as said wheel is rotated, means to eject the shell, a magazine having an opening in its lower end, a closure for said opening, a flat bent spring retained in said magazine, a plate for lifting the shells supported on said flat spring, and spring guides at the sides of said magazine.

3. An automatic shot-gun including a barrel, a breech-chamber in axial alinment therewith, and a recoil chamber parallel with said breech-chamber, a chambered bolt formed.v

with an arm extending outwardly of the breech-chamber and an arm extending in said recoil chamber, a compression-spring in said recoil chamberarranged to exert its force upon said bolt through said last named arm, a firing pin mounted in the chambered portion .of said bolt and provided with a lug at its rear end. exteriorly of the bolt, a coil spring tending to urge said pin forwardly, a trigger having an upturned iinger yieldingly connected thereto, a star-wheel arranged to be actuatedin partial rotation by said trigger-linger, a spring-pressed lever having dog arranged to engage and releasably retain said firing-pin lug, said lever being provided with a roller normally engaging within one of the depressions between the points of said star-wheel and arranged to be actuated to rock said lever and release said dog from said lug as said wheel is rotated,y an extractor on said bolt, a pin in the path of the shell being extracted and upon the side opposite the extractor to act as a stop and fulcrum to eject the shell, a magazine for shells, and means to feed shells from said magazine to the firing-chamber.

il. An automatic shot-gun including a barrel, a breech-chamber in axial alignment therewith and a recoil chamber parallel with said breechchamber, a chambered bolt formed with an arm extending outwardly of the breech-chamber and an arm extending in said recoil chamber, a compression-spring in said recoil chamber arranged to exert its force n upon said bolt-through said last named arm, a firing-pinmounted in the chambered portion of said bolt and provided with a lug at its rear end exteriorly of thel bolt, a coil spring tending to urge said pin forwardly, a trigger having an upturned finger yieldingly connected thereto, a star-wheel arranged to Abe actuated in partial rotation by said trigger-linger, a spring pressed lever having a dog arranged to engage and releasably retain said firing-pin lug, said lever being provided with a roller normally engaging within one of the depressions between the points of said star-wheel and arranged to be actuated to rock said lever and release said dog .from said lug as said wheel is rotated,

means to eject the shell, a magazine for shells A. c. ITHoMrrrs. 

